Willys Wagons

[thezentree]

Anyone ever owned one? Driven one?

I keep seeing them pop up on social media lately, and the episode of Dirt Every Day where they swapped a Willys body onto a stretched YJ frame got me wanting one. There's a 4x4 wagon near my parents' house that's been sitting for years and I think it would make a really cool mild restomod if the guy would part with it for a reasonable price. What is a reasonable price?

I don't know the first thing about them other than I want one and my girlfriend will (maybe literally) kill me if I buy one.

[freerider15]

I've looked into them as well (though I REALLY don't need another project).

For me, I'd try to find one relatively straight, and swap it onto a Waggy Frame/Drivetrain/Suspension.

V-8, D'44's, etc. without too much work. Pretty common enough swap

[JEEPJERK]

do it!

[thezentree]

Originally Posted by freerider15

I've looked into them as well (though I REALLY don't need another project).

For me, I'd try to find one relatively straight, and swap it onto a Waggy Frame/Drivetrain/Suspension.

V-8, D'44's, etc. without too much work. Pretty common enough swap

Yeah if I was to buy it, it'd sit in a warehouse for a few years before I'd be able to do anything with it. Is the stock drivetrain terrible on these things? I'm looking to clean it up, put like 31s or 32s on it, and go cruise around the beach with it. I'm not particularly interested in doing any hardcore wheeling with it. I have a Toyota to beat on now, hah.

Originally Posted by JEEPJERK

do it!

Thinking hard about it. The guy who has it now had an early Bronco that sat in his yard with a for sale sign in the windshield the entire time I was in high school. He sold it about the time I started making enough money to be able to buy it. I died a little inside when that happened.

I just don't know what they're worth or if they're even in my price range.

[nblehm]

Buy it. If I had the room I would own 100 old willys.

The stock drivetrain would be fine to just cruise around with

[Cobound]

Max-Bilt, from Eau Claire, WI built one last year...pretty sweet. Check it out:

http://www.fourwheeler.com/sema/2016...016-tensema16/

Video of it:

https://youtu.be/EnCO3RXUn7M

[freerider15]

Originally Posted by thezentree

I'm not particularly interested in doing any hardcore wheeling with it.

I wouldn't be either, if I did it would be just more of a cruiser. The original motor would be fine, that is if it has it, and it's not in horrible condition. Trying to fix up one of the older motors, would get rather expensive from what I've seen. Hence, why for me throwing it on a waggy frame, and some 33's-35's would be perfect. Or, do like the one Brian linked and put a 4.0L in it.